Feds announce funding for unique veterans' home in Ottawa

The federal government is paying more than half the cost ofCanada's first home designed specifically for homeless veterans Tuesday, a month before construction is scheduled to start.

TheMultifaith Housing Initiative is starting construction in August to build the40-unit home for military veterans struggling with homelessness at the former Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe, east of downtown Ottawa.

• Charity proposes veterans' home at former CFB Rockcliffe

"This building has been very specifically designed for the needs of [veterans] the first of its kind in Canada," said Suzanne Le, the charity's executive director.

"The issue goes way beyond Ottawa We want to see houses [like this] go up across the country."

There are similar projects across Canada, includingtransitional housing for veterans inEdmonton and a repurposed home for veterans in Calgary,but Le said this is the first purpose-built, permanent home for veterans.

Calming, shared spaces

The buildingis designed with astrongfocuson communal areas, as well as calm outdoor spaces to help deal with mental health issuessuch as night terrors, Le said.

Some of the suggestions brought up during a lengthy planningprocess involving partner organizations and experts included afitness room, a meditative garden and a dog yard for those with service dogs.

They will all be included in the new home.

Veterans will be able to move in around October 2020, roughly 14 months after construction begins, and they will be able to stayas long as they want, Le said.

The charity will work with theRoyal Canadian Legion andVeterans Affairs Canada to identify future residents.

The home will also offermental health andaddictions support.

"We are recognizing that as a population [they] kind of have a very strong unit mentality," Le said. "We've kind of brought it back to that."

Hundreds of homeless vets

Soldiers Helping Soldiers, an Ottawa-based organization serving military members, saidit encountered over 375 veterans staying in shelters over the last three years, Le said, adding that it's a country-wide issue.

"The research indicates that it has a lot to do with the transition," Le said. "They have issues transitioning from a military culture and lifestyle to a civilian culture and lifestyle."

Soldiers Helping Soldiers is planning to offer peer mentoring support to veterans at the unit.

Instead ofa monument orplaque, the project was chosen to commemorate the military history of the Rockcliffe airbase by providing a safe and affordable space for veterans who are struggling with mental health, addiction issues and homelessness, Le said.

"[It] becomes a living commemoration of that military history, continuingto serve veterans in need," she said.

"We've been working on this project for five years so it's taken us a long time to get to this point I'm really proud.

With the federal government'ssupport, the charity is hopingthe project willinspire other cities to build their own veteran-specifichomes to deal with the Canada-wide problem.

Veterans Affairs Canada is providing $6.5 millionto Veterans' House.

The project is expected to cost $11.5 million, with half the remaining $5 million already raised. Another $2,5 million is still to come.